Daniel Hallberg Goree died suddenly Jan. 17, 2017 in Vancouver, Wash.

He was born in Tampa, Fla. Jan. 9, 1984. His early years were spent in Tampa, Fla.; Atlanta, Ga.; Cleburne, Texas and Tryon, N.C.

He graduated from Polk County High School in 2002 and attended Western Carolina University.

Always a hard worker, beginning in high school and during college Dan worked at the Tryon IGA, the Caro-mi restaurant, as a FENCE day camp counselor, some-time bookseller for his mom at The Book Shelf, plumber’s helper, and as an au pair in The Netherlands. When he moved to Washington state, he worked in construction and as a refractory mason’s helper, and was a member of the Bricklayers & Allied Craft Workers Union.

As a young person, Dan enjoyed martial arts, yoga and acting in plays at Tryon Little Theatre with his sister, singing with his brother and their dogs Jimmy and Mexican Bob, and activities with the Landrum United Methodist Church Youth Group. He loved a good movie and a good book, especially if he had someone to discuss it with after watching or reading it. He usually had an inappropriate but hysterical joke during family meals, and may hold the Guinness Book of World Record for “being excused from the dinner table the most times in a four year period during middle and high school.” During these years and whenever he visited Tryon, his favorite hangout was the Tryon Coffeehouse, where he always felt welcomed by Bill and Wendy Ingham and hung out with an eclectic group of friends.

Although Dan may have benefitted from a filter, as far as friends, family and co-workers, it was easy to know where you stood with him. If you liked, loved or just enjoyed being with him, he felt the same about you, and had no problem telling you so.

In the summer of 2006 he went to work as a children’s counselor at a Colorado dude ranch where he met Michelle Baker. He and Michelle were married at the end of that year and they had two sons, Stuart and Julian, now ages 6 and 8. Although he and Michelle were not together at the time Dan died, they remained committed partners in co-parenting their sons.

Daniel had a ferocious love for his sons Stuart and Julian, and joyfully took them to see and participate in activities ranging from the local science museum, the latest Star Wars movie, the Mt. St. Helen’s Museum and ComiCon.

He is survived by Stuart and Julian; their mother Michelle Baker of Vancouver, Wash.; his parents Betsy and Jay Goree of Tryon; sister Desty Benton and her husband Matt of Colleyville, Texas; brother Jeff Goree and his wife Andi; maternal grandmother Charlotte Hallberg of Greensboro, N.C.; paternal grandfather Phil Goree and wife Joyce of Columbus, N.C.; the extended Baker family of Vancouver, Wash. and Dripping Springs, Texas; ten nieces and nephews; clan McClung of Temple Terrace, Fla.; extended Hallberg, Edmondson and Olive families; as well as untold numbers of friends and many co-workers who will miss his presence in their lives.

In lieu of flowers, a college fund for Dan’s boys, Stuart and Julian, has been set up online at youcaring.com.

If you want to write a letter to his sons about their dad for them to have as they grow older, you can email that to ehgoree@gmail.com or mail to Jay and Betsy Goree, PO Box 903, Tryon, NC 28782.

A gathering of family and friends to celebrate and remember his life will be held in April, with a firm date to be announced.

Submitted by Jay Goree